THOUGHTS | PRECIOUS MOMOWEI'S UE EXIT

Precious Momowei has been released from his contract and is now looking for other opportunities within the UAAP.

In case you did not know, I am not a fan of frequent college transfers. In fact, I think the PBA top honchos should reconsider their ruling that requires a player to finish his college education before turning pro. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his MVP award at age 26, while most PBA careers begin around age 25. Education is undeniably important, but when a player’s career depends on physical ability, it makes more sense for him to showcase his skills during his prime.

However, the situation is different for foreign student-athletes. Aside from the fact that they cannot play in both the PBA, the MPBL, and the NCAA, transferring to another UAAP school means two years of inactivity. That means Momowei would likely be around 25 or 26 by the time he returns to televised basketball, and I am not sure he would be comfortable with that.

Also, what could be their basketball-related reason for ditching Momowei?

The dude is a basketball monster!

This leads to a bigger question. Does Momowei actually want to leave the UE Red Warriors in the first place? I know UE went winless in UAAP Season 88, but an FSA can leave his team only if he is also prepared to face the consequences of that decision.

The reality is that Momowei was not the only Red Warrior who decided to move on. Nico Mulingtapang has also ended his stint with UE. Mulingtapang, who averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 assists last season, wants to continue his basketball career in an NCAA school. Had he stayed, he could have been a starter for UE next season.

So this makes me ask a very serious question. What exactly is wrong with the UE basketball program?

In his Instagram post, Momowei said, “I guess loyalty doesn’t pay.” What does “pay” mean in this context? Does it mean recognition for his hard work, or does it refer to the perks of playing for UE? Personally, I do not think Momowei truly wants to leave the school. Education itself is already a valuable benefit. If he is struggling academically, then that is a valid reason. But if that is the case, how would he handle the academic systems of schools like Ateneo, UST, DLSU, UP, FEU, NU, or Adamson?

The UE board must understand that while FSAs are often treated as hired guns, these players did not come to the Philippines just to be rebound-and-dunk machines. They are still students with aspirations beyond basketball.

A few days ago, Rob Labagala was replaced by Tony Tan as head coach of the San Sebastian Golden Stags. Labagala caused controversy when he exposed the program’s sponsorship problems, which may have contributed to Paeng Are moving to the MPBL, aside from his reduced role and playing time. There are also rumors that NCAA Season 101 rookie Ian Cuajao may be open to exploring other opportunities.

Again, I want to emphasize this point. If a player is in a deeply problematic situation or genuinely cannot handle a school’s academics, then transferring may be understandable. But moving from school to school without a strong reason is not the right approach.

One of the things I have learned in my almost 44 years is that people must take responsibility for their actions. But maybe this is not just about the players. Perhaps school officials also need to be held accountable.

When schools overhaul their basketball programs, they must also take care of their athletes. These players are not just athletes. They are students first and foremost. And right now, the system seems to be sending a message that as long as internal politics are prioritized, student welfare will always take a backseat.